Prince: We are gathered here, to see what part our holly friar has had in the lamentable death of two of Verona’s fair citizens, and to also come to a conclusion about how many other got dragged into this calamity and also lost their lives. We have already heard your account of this unforgettable saga, but a series of questions will be posted to you and what responses you give will determine what the jury decide, either that you are found innocent or guilty. So without further ado lets begin.
Prince: My first question to you Friar is when did Romeo and Juliet first come to see each other?
Friar: Well from what I have been told and have been led to understand, they first drew eyes upon each other at the Capulets party, a week or so ago now. This party must have constituted of many of the high nobles and many other significant personals. With young folks these days Romeo was looking for any lady with sheer beauty, as I told young Romeo young men’s love doesn’t truly lie in their hearts, but in their eyes. But determined as he was he did take on board my advice and had his heart set on sweet Juliet.
Prince: Interesting, so they were in love from the first moments they gazed eyes upon each other it seems. So when did they come and meet you and tell you of there marriage proposals?
Friar: Well I had a visit of dear Romeo on the day after his first meeting with the enemy’s daughter. He came to me and told me he had a wonderful night, and by what he was saying I was able to come to the conclusion that it was a girl that was rocking his boat. At first I thought it was Rosaline the charming girl Romeo had, had his heart set on, the girl he cried and pondered for, for days on end, until it seems that he established eyes upon Juliet. Again he said to me that he loved Juliet more than anything, more than he even loved Rosaline, but I cannot understand how a man can change from liking one girl to another girl after spending a couple of hours with her. He had been moping about Rosaline for so long, so it does not make sense that he wanted to get married to the girl straightaway.
Prince: So Friar why did you marry them if you thought it was not right and truly unjustified, without consultation from either of the two families, how could you go behind there backs and do this, knowing the fact that they were both rivals?
The friar was stuck on what to say, and it seems as if a tear is rolling down his face. But eventually some words came out,
Friar: Well, I married the two because I was wanted this to unite both families and to avoid the unbearable grudge to prolong, as I am sure you would acquiesce with me. Everyone in Verona wanted there to be imperturbable in the streets and there to be no more danger to any of the civilians of Verona, of being caught up in the clashing of the two families.
Prince: I hear what you are saying, but the logical thing you should have done was to come and consult me and acquire my help in resolving this matter. In such case we could have saved many lives and all the grief that has come with it. But how would you say your relationship with Romeo was, before he met Juliet?
Friar: Well I have known Romeo for all his life, I have seen him grow up and see him at church every Sunday without fail and for any other major events occurring in our town. I remember I christened all those many years ago, and have treated him as one of my own since then, I have never had any children, so he was the special child of the town whom I felt close to. Him coming past every few days to drop by and enlighten me some more, as he was a well educated child, he came up with many stories, some that left me having sleepless nights for days on end. He treated me more like a second father and came to me whenever he needed any advice about anything, he was not afraid to interrogate me. He also had a way with the ladies and his life was stupidly thrown away for love.
Prince: Can I ask the same question again but for Juliet, how would you describe your relationship with her before she met Romeo?
Friar: Well I did not know her as well as I knew Romeo, that is a certainty, I believe I christened Juliet just as I did Romeo, but I am taking about fourteen years ago now, the days in which I was a young and pretty man with hair, so my memory is a bit frail. She was not the kind of girl that visited the church regularly and I consider her more of an inside child, what I mean by that is she does not seem to have seen much of the outside world, and I suspect the first man she came to draw eyes upon was Romeo. I consider Romeo and Juliet to being opposite people, Juliet is more of an inside person and does not seem to go out much, where as Romeo just seems to lurk and wonder round to and where he pleases. Its like magnets opposite sides attract.
Prince: Another thing I wish to entreat on you is why did you give Juliet the potion, this is going to far and you must agree with me on this one. How could you possibly live with yourself knowing that you have taken the diamond from the Capulets crown?
Friar: Well as I have explained to you earlier, in the long speech in which I had given after the tragic out come had been pursued. Juliet was threatening to kill herself right there, in my cell unless I did something to help her, I had to help her and I am telling you now I regret every bit of it, I should have come clean and informed the Capulets about everything that had happened. I partially wanted to save my life as well, without anyone finding out what terrible sins I had committed in marrying the couple, without consultation from anyone.
Prince: I cannot understand you, you are supposed to be the high priest in the community, the man in which we all look up to when we wish to talk to the lord, we are meant to talk to him through you, and you are the most fearsome man I know. My final question to you, before you fate shall be decided, is why did you run away from the Capulets burial site?
Friar: I ran away because I was scared I was scared that if I was found there in the tomb, at that time of day, in that particular moment, that I would be executed. I ran for my dear life, and begged Juliet to come with me, but devoted to Romeo that she was she also gave up her life, as she knew it was not worth living if Romeo was not in her life So she as her husband killed herself.
Prince: There are a few things which I have not stated, my fellow kinsmen also lost their lives with the fooling around of the Friar, my dear Mercutio and Paris have both been slain. We are going to take a five-minute recession while the jury decide upon your outcome.
The three men in the jury just talk to each other and discuss upon what they are going to do.
Paris: Holy Friar all three men have found you innocent of having a part to play in this devastating outcome, I hope not to see you getting involved with anyone anymore and if I catch you again, your life shall be lost.
Friar: That you lord! I fully understand, I am going to improve as a person, I am never going to get involved with anyone’s lives again, you can mark my word. Thank you god
Prince: Some shall be pardoned, and some shall be punished,
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
